Amarylis Ann Crane (1877-1952), English teacher, "reader", mother, Stephen Poth's paternal grandmother

 Amarylis Ann Crane (October 24, 1877, Illinois - August 1, 1952, Denver)

from Chicago, Des Moines, Denver 

 English teacher, reader in theatrical and musical programs, mother of three 

This is Stephen D. Poth's paternal grandmother. 

Amarylis Ann Crane, Doug Poth's mother, was born in Iroquois County, Illinois, the second child of William Henry Crane and Nellie Rose Hogan.   She lived a couple of years in her early childhood in Kansas where her father was a farmer for a short time, but from the age of four, grew up in Chicago.   

The1900 Census shows Amaryl's family in Chicago, ward 15, on Nebraska Avenue.  She is 22 years old.  (Not pictured is the line for occupation - I can't decipher her occupation, unfortunately): 

Marriage and family: 

On June 28, 1905, Amaryl marries Edward J. M. Poth in Chicago.  Edward is an engraver, living with his sister and her husband in another part of Chicago.  I wonder how Amaryl and Edward met? 

In 1906, they are living in Chicago and have one daughter, Amaryllis E., who was born just a few months after Amaryl's father died.  In 1910, their son Edward Marshall Poth was born.  

Sometime before 1913, the family moved to Des Moines, Iowa.   They lived at 3411 Crocker Street in Des Moines, in a house built in 1912.   (this image from 2021): 

Busy public life in Des Moines: 

We are fortunate to have many brief clippings from the Des Moines Tribune starting in 1913 when Amaryl  was 35 years old,  that give us a glimpse into her busy and creative life in Des Moines: 

On Labor Day weekend in 1913, she was involved in a musical at her (country club??) as the "reader" - a role she would play at other times and venues, with the Elmwood Trio. 

In 1914, she was a "lady player" in a golf tournament, "consolation solace" round. 

Amaryl was an active member of a discussion group called "The Emerson Chautauqua Circle".  In January 1917, she hosted the group at her home: 

The next week, she led the discussion: 

And so on.  On July 19, 1917, her third child, Charles Douglas Poth was born.   Amaryl was 39 years old. 

Charles Douglas with his mother Amaryl Crane Poth,  1917 or 1918: 

And just a few months later Amaryl hosted the Emerson Circle again.  Amaryl must have had help with childcare and housework.  This is part of the invisible labor of women that doesn't get documented. 

She hosted a Halloween themed evening for her daughter Amaryllis: 

English teacher, director: 

The 1920 census shows that Edward is an engraver and Amaryl is an English teacher, working "on her own accord."  I wish we had more details about that.  

In December 1920, she directed a one-act play at St. Ambrose Parish center: 

And in 1921, she gave readings at programs at the Catholic Women's League, and the Daughters of Isabella (auxillary to the Knights of Columbus) in Des Moines.

We know that the Poths were still in Des Moines in 1924, but we are unclear as to exactly when, and why, they moved to Denver.  

Move to Denver 

In any case, by 1930, the family had relocated to Milwaukee Street in Denver.   Sometime after the death of Amaryl's mother in 1932,  Amaryl's sister Mabel moved from Chicago to Denver and lived with the Poths.   In 1940 they are living at 1635 Adams Street and Doug is 22 years old.  

I hope that more newspapers will become available and we might catch a glimpse of Amaryl's life in Denver during the empty nest years. 

Amaryl died Aug 1, 1952.  Edward died a few years later in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Their gravestones are found in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Wheat Ridge, Jefferson County, Colorado, near their daughter Amarylis Poth Nunes' gravestone.  

see also:  

Edward J. M Poth 

Children of Amaryl Crane and Edward Poth 

Sources: 

1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 census 

Cook County IL marriage index 

U.S. City Directories 

Newpapers dot com clippings from the Des Moines Tribune

Find a Grave index 

Cynthia Poth Nanto family tree on Ancestry dot com